Agency Summer Camps in America

Agency Summer Camps

Agency camps are something quite special - not every child is able or fortunate enough to go to camp and Agency camps are all about changing the game and levelling the field.

Agency camps in America are run by not-for-profit organisations. The camps are incredibly inspiring. They take children, often from underprivileged backgrounds and the inner cities, and provide them with the opportunity to escape their everyday, be cared for and to have fun at summer camp no matter their background.

With the funding from organisations like the YMCA, JCC or the 4-H Club - the campers come to camp for various lengths of time, from just one week or for the full summer season as offered by most private, traditional camps.

Agency camps are definitely a feel good environment - we feel good even just talking about Agency Camps right now.

What to Expect

An opportunity to provide an amazing summer to children from underprivileged and disadvantaged backgrounds. At the end of it all you'll be wiser, braver and a little less bothered about the more superficial things in life.

Top Tip

Embrace your inner Bear Grylls and throw yourself into the rustic outdoors. The ability to make the most of what you’ve got and have fun with it is an enormous advantage.

What Not to Expect

Don’t expect the children too have much experience in diverse activities. A summer at camp is not a given for many of the children, so this may be their first time at some of the activities on offer.

You’ll Love

The rewarding feeling of providing an unforgettable summer for the campers.

Facilities and Accommodation

The facilities and offerings at not-for-profit summer camps tend to be a little more simple and are within a rustic, traditional camp environment. A lot of the accommodation and facilities on the property may be a little older and your ability to embrace the outdoors will be key.

Yes, there will showers at your camp, but they not be the warmest. Yes there will be toilets at your camp, but they may not be in your bunk.

Your days spent at camp will be balanced between looking after your own bunk of kids and helping run the day to day activities across camp as a whole. Your bunk will typically have 6 or more campers in it, and (often with a co-counselor) you'll help in getting them up in the morning, making sure they brush their teeth, shower and eat well balanced meals.

As with working at almost any kind of summer camp, you'll learn that you really don't need the majority of things you currently have in your life. Wi-Fi. TV. Air-Conditioning. Regular hot showers; all things you'll happily go without (or get used to not having) after just a few days of the kids arriving. You could also use your free period to grab a shower and change your clothes or you could swing by the ceramics shed to help that one camper in your bunk make that perfectly malformed mug to take back to their foster family.

The Campers

A small portion of agency camps will cater more specifically for children from the most underprivileged of backgrounds. These campers will impact you the most - many of them will have been through more hardship than you will face in your entire life. Just hearing their stories will validate your entire summer experience - you're helping to create an amazing experience for them that will show them that the world really isn't such a tough place.

If you return to camp year after year, you'll see some of your campers grow 'through the ranks' to become junior counselors intent on throwing themselves into every activity and talent show with as much enthusiasm as possible. You will laugh and cry more than at any other point in your life, and your non-camp friends will never understand the power of your stories (until you convince them to come to camp themselves next year).

Applying for an Agency Camp

As part of your application, you’ll be able to specify what kind of camp you’re interested in and we will then look to match you with what matters to you. You’ll have the option to select working with children from underprivileged backgrounds as part of your application and our team will do their magic. Remember that being more open to working at different camp types increases your chances of placement.

Placement Opportunities with Camp Leaders

We work with over 500 hundred of the best camps in America, giving you some of the highest placement chances in the industry. Not for profit camps in America use a number of UK-based agencies to recruit staff and we have been one of the key providers for nearly 20 years, giving you the security of finding that summer camp in America job.

The Camp Leaders program is administered in conjunction with our US Department of State designated visa sponsor, Cultural Homestay International. During the period from May 1st until October 1st twenty four hour support is provided by Cultural Homestay International in association with Smaller Earth.